I have heard what the talkers were talking, the talk of the beginning and the end; 30
But I do not talk of the beginning or the end.
[3.1]
There was never any more inception than there is now,
Nor any more youth or age than there is now;
And will never be any more perfection than there is now,
Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now. 35
[3.2]
Urge, and urge, and urge;
Always the procreant urge of the world.
[3.3]
Out of the dimness opposite equals advance—always substance and increase, always sex;
Always a knit of identity—always distinction—always a breed of life.
[3.4]
To elaborate is no avail —learn’d and unlearn’d feel that it is so. 40
[3.5]
Sure as the most certain sure, plumb in the uprights , well entretied , braced in the beams ,
Stout as a horse, affectionate, haughty, electrical,
I and this mystery, here we stand.
[3.6]
Clear and sweet is my Soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my Soul.
[3.7]
Lack one lacks both, and the unseen is proved by the seen, 45
Till that becomes unseen, and receives proof in its turn.
[3.8]
Showing the best, and dividing it from the worst, age vexes age;
Knowing the perfect fitness and equanimity of things, while they discuss I am silent, and go bathe and admire myself.
[3.9]
Welcome is every organ and attribute of me, and of any man hearty and clean;
Not an inch, nor a particle of an inch, is vile, and none shall be less familiar than the rest. 50
[3.10]
I am satisfied—I see, dance, laugh, sing:
As the hugging and loving Bed-fellow sleeps at my side through the night, and withdraws at the peep of the day, with stealthytread ,
Leaving me baskets cover’d with white towels, swelling the house with their plenty,
Shall I postpone my acceptation and realization, and scream at my eyes,
That they turn from gazing after and down the road, 55
And forthwith cipher and show me a cent,
Exactly the contents of one, and exactly the contents of two, and which is ahead?
[3.11]
3.
I have heard what the talkers were talking, the talk of the beginning and the end; 30
But I do not talk of the beginning or the end.
[3.1]
There was never any more inception than there is now,
Nor any more youth or age than there is now;
And will never be any more perfection than there is now,
Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now. 35
[3.2]
Urge, and urge, and urge;
Always the procreant urge of the world.
[3.3]
Out of the dimness opposite equals advance—always substance and increase, always sex;
Always a knit of identity—always distinction—always a breed of life.
[3.4]
To elaborate is no avail —learn’d and unlearn’d feel that it is so. 40
[3.5]
Sure as the most certain sure, plumb in the uprights , well entretied , braced in the beams ,
Stout as a horse, affectionate, haughty, electrical,
I and this mystery, here we stand.
[3.6]
Clear and sweet is my Soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my Soul.
[3.7]
Lack one lacks both, and the unseen is proved by the seen, 45
Till that becomes unseen, and receives proof in its turn.
[3.8]
Showing the best, and dividing it from the worst, age vexes age;
Knowing the perfect fitness and equanimity of things, while they discuss I am silent, and go bathe and admire myself.
[3.9]
Welcome is every organ and attribute of me, and of any man hearty and clean;
Not an inch, nor a particle of an inch, is vile, and none shall be less familiar than the rest. 50
[3.10]
I am satisfied—I see, dance, laugh, sing:
As the hugging and loving Bed-fellow sleeps at my side through the night, and withdraws at the peep of the day, with stealthy tread ,
Leaving me baskets cover’d with white towels, swelling the house with their plenty,
Shall I postpone my acceptation and realization, and scream at my eyes,
That they turn from gazing after and down the road, 55
And forthwith cipher and show me a cent,
Exactly the contents of one, and exactly the contents of two, and which is ahead?
[3.11]
< < previous . . . . . . . next > >